Hypnosis

Hypnosis - Scientific Research

General Hypnosis Information

50 years of hypnosis in medicine and clinical health psychology: a synthesis of cultural crosscurrents.
Weisberg MB. Am J Clin Hypn. 2008 Jul; 51(1):13-27.
This paper summarizes the use of medical hypnosis in hospitals and clinics throughout the country. It also describes how hypnosis affects the brain, facilitating measurable physiological responses and physical changes.

Controlled outcome studies of child clinical hypnosis.
Adinolfi B, Gava N. Acta Biomed. 2013 Sep 1; 84(2):94-7.
Clinical hypnosis is effective in the management of fear, pain and other kinds of stressful experiences in children; children who receive self-hypnosis trainings achieve significantly greater improvements in their physical health, quality of life, and self-esteem. Some specific examples of clinical applications of hypnosis in pediatrics are: reduction of pain and anxiety before, during and after the administration of anesthetics, during local dental treatments, and invasive medical procedures. Hypnosis is effective in the management of burn pain and chemotherapy-related distress (pain and nausea), treatment of recurrent headaches, abdominal pain, irritable bowel syndrome, asthma, cystic fibrosis, insomnia, habitual disorders, dermatologic conditions (atopic dermatitis and chronic eczema), and other conditions.

Hypnosis for depression, stress, and anxiety

Hypnosis in the treatment of anxiety- and stress-related disorders.
Hammond DC. Expert Rev Neurother. 2010 Feb;10(2):263-73. doi: 10.1586/ern.09.140.
Self-hypnosis represents a rapid, cost-effective, nonaddictive and safe alternative to medication for the treatment of anxiety and anxiety-related medical conditions, such as tension headaches, migraines and irritable bowel syndrome.

Clinical research on the utility of hypnosis in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of medical and psychiatric disorders.
Nash MR, Perez N, Tasso A, Levy JJ. Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2009 Oct;57(4):443-50. doi: 10.1080/00207140903099153.
The authors summarize four articles which address the role of hypnosis in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of medical and psychiatric disorders and conditions.

Hypnosis for IBS

Long-term success of GUT-directed group hypnosis for patients with refractory irritable bowel syndrome: a randomized controlled trial.
Moser G, Trägner S, Gajowniczek EE, Mikulits A, Michalski M, Kazemi-Shirazi L, Kulnigg-Dabsch S, Führer M, Ponocny-Seliger E, Dejaco C, Miehsler W. Am J Gastroenterol. 2013 Apr;108(4):602-9. doi: 10.1038/ajg.2013.19. Epub 2013 Feb 19.
Gut-directed hypnotherapy improves quality of life in patients in IBS, is superior to medical treatment combined with supportive talks, and shows a long-term effect even in refractory IBS.

Group Hypnosis Improves Symptoms and Quality of Life in IBS.
Boggs, W. medscape.com. 2013 Mar 14.
Because of its efficacy, gut-directed hypnotherapy should be offered as a routine treatment for IBS.

Gut-directed hypnotherapy for functional abdominal pain or irritable bowel syndrome in children: a systematic review.
Rutten JM, Reitsma JB, Vlieger AM, Benninga MA. Arch Dis Child. 2013 Apr; 98(4):252-7. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2012-302906. Epub 2012 Dec 6.
This paper provides a systemic review of literature pertaining to the use of hypnosis for treatment of functional abdominal pain (FAP) or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in children. Reviewed studies demonstrate that the therapeutic effects of hypnotherapy are superior to standard medical care in children with FAP or IBS.

Long-term follow-up of gut-directed hypnotherapy vs. standard care in children with functional abdominal pain or irritable bowel syndrome.
Vlieger AM, Rutten JM, Govers AM, Frankenhuis C, Benninga MA. Am J Gastroenterol. 2012 Apr;107(4):627-31. doi: 10.1038/ajg.2011.487. Epub 2012 Feb 7.
In previous studies the authors proved that gut-directed hypnotherapy is highly effective in the treatment of children with functional abdominal pain (FAP) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This study shows that the effects of hypnotherapy are long lasting, as evidenced by two thirds of children remaining in remission almost five years after treatment.

Designing and Delivering a Hypnotherapy Service for Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Primary Care.
Bremner, H. Frontline Gastroenterol. 2012; 3(3):210-215.
This paper illustrates the clinical effectiveness of hypnotherapy in the treatment of IBS and suggests ways of incorporating hypnotherapy in the medical treatment of IBS.

Hypnotherapy Eases Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms.
Brown, T. medscape.com. 2012 Apr 06.
This article describes the use of hypnotherapy in IBS patients and illustrates its positive, long-term effects on the IBS symptoms and patients’ quality of life.

Hypnosis and irritable bowel syndrome: a review of efficacy and mechanism of action.
Tan G, Hammond DC, Joseph G. Am J Clin Hypn. 2005 Jan; 47(3):161-78.
This paper reviews 14 published studies on the efficacy of hypnosis in treating IBS. The authors concluded that hypnosis treatment for IBS is efficacious, specific and effective. Hypnotherapy not only consistently improves IBS symptoms, but positively affects non-colonic symptoms.

Hypnosis for headaches and migraines

Review of the efficacy of clinical hypnosis with headaches and migraines.
Hammond DC. Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2007 Apr; 55(2):207-19.
This paper provides a review of the research investigating the effectiveness of hypnosis in the treatment of headaches and migraines. The paper concludes that hypnosis is a safe, effective and well-established treatment for headaches and migraines.

Hypnotic relaxation vs amitriptyline for tension-type headache: let the patient choose.
Ezra Y, Gotkine M, Goldman S, Adahan HM, Ben-Hur T. Headache. 2012 May; 52(5):785-91.
Patients who chose hypnotic relaxation for treatment of headaches reported greater symptom relief than those choosing amitriptyline treatment.

Chronic daily headache: helping adolescents help themselves with self-hypnosis.
Kohen DP. Am J Clin Hypn. 2011 Jul; 54(1):32-46.
Adolescents who previously did not respond to pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic therapies for chronic daily headaches reported decreased pain frequency, pain intensity and pain duration as a result of hypnosis therapy.

Long-term follow-up of self-hypnosis training for recurrent headaches: what the children say.
Kohen DP. Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2010 Oct; 58(4):417-32.
In this study focusing on children and adolescents suffering from headaches, the practice of self-hypnosis resulted in a significant reduction of headache pain. The effects of hypnosis practice lasted for many years following training. The researchers also found that the young people commonly generalized the skills learned through self-hypnosis to modulate other problems in their lives (spontaneous generalizability).

Self-hypnosis training for headaches in children and adolescents.
Kohen DP, Zajac R. J Pediatr. 2007 Jun;150(6):635-9.
Children and youths who learned self-hypnosis for recurrent headaches reported a significant reduction in the frequency, intensity and average duration of headache pain. There were no adverse side effects of self-hypnosis.

Hypnosis and autogenic training in the treatment of tension headaches: a two-phase constructive design study with follow-up.
Zitman FG, van Dyck R, Spinhoven P, Linssen AC. J Psychosom Res. 1992 Apr; 36(3):219-28.
Autogenic relaxation training and hypnosis were compared as treatments for tension headaches. Both treatments reduced pain, but hypnosis had a better long-term effect.

Hypnosis for TMJ and myofascial pain

Hypnorelaxation as treatment for myofascial pain disorder: a comparative study.
Winocur E, Gavish A, Emodi-Perlman A, Halachmi M, Eli I. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 2002 Apr; 93(4):429-34.
This research confirms that hypnosis is an effective mode of treatment for muscular face and jaw pain (masticatory myofascial pain disorders).

Effect of hypnosis on pain and blink reflexes in patients with painful temporomandibular disorders.
Abrahamsen R, Baad-Hansen L, Zachariae R, Svensson P. Clin J Pain. 2011 May; 27(4):344-51. doi: 10.1097/AJP.0b013e3181ffbfcb.
Hypnosis reduces complex temporomandibular disorder (TMJ) pain because of its effect on the cortical part of the brain.

Effect of hypnotic pain modulation on brain activity in patients with temporomandibular disorder pain.
Abrahamsen R, Dietz M, Lodahl S, Roepstorff A, Zachariae R, Østergaard L, Svensson P. Pain. 2010 Dec; 151(3):825-33. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2010.09.020. Epub 2010 Oct 8
This study is the first to describe the hypnotic modulation of brain activity associated with the processing of pain in the brain in patients suffering chronic TMD /TMJ. Pain decrease is accomplished by a pronounced suppression of cortical activity during hypnosis.

Enhancing the efficacy of treatment for temporomandibular patients with muscular diagnosis through cognitive-behavioral intervention, including hypnosis: a randomized study.
Ferrando M, Galdón MJ, Durá E, Andreu Y, Jiménez Y, Poveda R. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. 2012 Jan;113(1):81-9. doi: 10.1016/j.tripleo.2011.08.020. Epub 2012 Feb 3.
This study evaluated the efficacy of a cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), including hypnosis, in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD/TMJ) which were muscular in origin. CBT, including hypnosis, significantly improved the standard treatment outcome in TMD/TMJ patients.

Hypnosis in the management of persistent idiopathic orofacial pain–clinical and psychosocial findings.
Abrahamsen R, Baad-Hansen L, Svensson P. Pain. 2008 May;136(1-2):44-52. Epub 2007 Aug 6.
This study concludes that hypnosis offers clinically relevant pain relief from persistent face and jaw pain. The authors suggest inclusion of stress management and, possibly, psychotherapy in the treatment protocol for this patient population.

Medical hypnosis for temporomandibular disorders: treatment efficacy and medical utilization outcome.
Simon EP, Lewis DM. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 2000 Jul; 90(1):54-63.
Medical hypnosis appears to be an effective treatment modality for TMD, as evidenced in a reduction of TMD symptoms and a decreased need for other medical interventions.

Effect of hypnosis on oral function and psychological factors in temporomandibular disorders patients.
Abrahamsen R, Zachariae R, Svensson P. J Oral Rehabil. 2009 Aug; 36(8):556-70. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2842.2009.01974.x.
This study investigated the effect of hypnosis in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) with a focus on oral function and psychological outcomes. The hypnosis group significantly reduced daily pain scores and improved sleep. The hypnosis group also showed reduced somatization and decreased anxiety and obsessive compulsive symptoms, while exhibiting increased use of the coping strategies.

Effect of hypnotic pain modulation on brain activity in patients with temporomandibular disorder pain.
Abrahamsen R, Dietz M, Lodahl S, Roepstorff A, Zachariae R, Østergaard L, Svensson P. Pain. 2010 Dec;151(3):825-33. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2010.09.020. Epub 2010 Oct 8.
This paper examines how hypnosis affects the brain to produce decreased pain perception in TMJ patients.

The effects of a medical hypnotherapy on clothing industry employees suffering from chronic pain.
Roja Z, Kalkis V, Roja I, Kalkis H. J Occup Med Toxicol. 2013 Sep 25; 8(1):25. doi: 10.1186/1745-6673-8-25.
This study evaluated effectiveness of a medical hypnotherapy program provided to factory workers suffering from chronic muscle tension, muscular fatigue and muscular (myofascial) pain. Workers who participated in the medical hypnotherapy program reported decreased pain intensity, decreased muscle tension, decreased muscular fatigue, decreased emotional stress and an overall increase in the quality of life.

Hypnosis for tinnitus (ringing in the ear)

Effectiveness of Ericksonian hypnosis in tinnitus therapy: preliminary results.
Yazici ZM, Sayin I, Gökkuş G, Alatas E, Kaya H, Kayhan FT. B-ENT. 2012; 8(1):7-12.
This study demonstrated the effectiveness of Ericksonian hypnosis in reducing the impact of tinnitus on patients’ quality of life.

Ericksonian hypnosis in tinnitus therapy.
Maudoux A, Bonnet S, Lhonneux-Ledoux F, Lefebvre P. B-ENT. 2007; 3 Suppl 7:75-7.
The results of this clinical trial demonstrate that Ericksonian hypnosis, in particular using self-hypnosis, is a promising technique for treating patients with tinnitus.

Comparison between self-hypnosis, masking and attentiveness for alleviation of chronic tinnitus.
Attias J, Shemesh Z, Sohmer H, Gold S, Shoham C, Faraggi D. Audiology. 1993 May-Jun; 32(3):205-12.
Hypnosis significantly reduced the tinnitus severity. Attentiveness to patient complaints only partially relieved the tinnitus. Masking did not have any significant effect.

Efficacy of self-hypnosis for tinnitus relief.
Attias J, Shemesh Z, Shoham C, Shahar A, Sohmer H. Scand Audiol. 1990;19(4):245-9.
Self-hypnosis provided tinnitus relief both in short term and long term.

Hypnosis for fibromyalgia, cancer pain, burn pain and other pain conditions

Effect of hypnotic suggestion on fibromyalgic pain: comparison between hypnosis and relaxation.
Castel A, Pérez M, Sala J, Padrol A, Rull M. Eur J Pain. 2007 May; 11(4):463-8. Epub 2006 Aug 4.
This study showed that hypnosis reduced fibromyalgia pain. However, hypnosis followed by analgesia suggestions had a greater effect on the intensity and sensory dimension of the pain than hypnosis followed by relaxation suggestions.

Chronic low-back pain modulation is enhanced by hypnotic analgesic suggestion by recruiting an emotional network: a PET imaging study.
Nusbaum F, Redouté J, Le Bars D, Volckmann P, Simon F, Hannoun S, Ribes G, Gaucher J, Laurent B, Sappey-Marinier D. Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2011 Jan; 59(1):27-44.
This study shows that hypnosis affects both cognitive-sensory and emotional pain modulation networks in the brain, resulting in reduction of perceived pain.

A comparison of self-hypnosis versus progressive muscle relaxation in patients with multiple sclerosis and chronic pain.
Jensen MP, Barber J, Romano JM, Molton IR, Raichle KA, Osborne TL, Engel JM, Stoelb BL, Kraft GH, Patterson DR. Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2009 Apr; 57(2):198-221.
This study supports the efficacy of self-hypnosis training for the management of chronic neuropathic pain in persons with MS.

Effects of self-hypnosis training and cognitive restructuring on daily pain intensity and catastrophizing in individuals with multiple sclerosis and chronic pain.
Jensen MP, Ehde DM, Gertz KJ, Stoelb BL, Dillworth TM, Hirsh AT, Molton IR, Kraft GH. Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2011 Jan; 59(1):45-63.
Self-hypnosis training produced greater neuropathic pain (MS pain) reduction than cognitive restructuring. The combined self-hypnosis and cognitive restructuring treatment was even more effective than hypnosis alone.

Hypnosis in the treatment of acute pain in the emergency department setting.
Deltito JA. Postgrad Med J. 1984 Apr; 60(702):263-6.
Hypnosis can be used as an effective adjunct or substitute for analgesic medications in the ER when drugs prove to be ineffective or contraindicated.

General information about hypnosis for pain

Hypnosis for treatment of pain in children.
Rogovik AL, Goldman RD. Can Fam Physician. 2007 May; 53(5):823-5.
Clinical hypnosis and self-hypnosis are effective as adjunct treatments for children in pain. Examples include painful medical procedures, such as bone marrow aspiration and lumbar puncture in pediatric cancer patients, postoperative pain and anxiety in children undergoing surgery, and chronic headaches.

Neurophysiology of pain and hypnosis for chronic pain.
Dillworth T, Mendosa EM, Jensen MP. Transl Behav Med. 2012 March; 2(1): 65–72.
A review of controlled clinical studies validating the use of hypnosis for treatment of chronic pain.

The Role of Suggestions in Hypnosis for Chronic Pain: A Review of the Literature.
Dillworth T, Jensen MP. Open Pain J. 2010; 3(1):39-51.
This review analyzes twenty five studies which compare hypnosis to relaxation and biofeedback in adult populations with various chronic pain conditions. Overall, these studies found hypnosis to be more effective than relaxation or biofeedback.

The efficacy of hypnotic analgesia in adults: a review of the literature.
Stoelb BL, Molton IR, Jensen MP, Patterson DR. Contemp Hypn. 2009 Mar 1; 26(1):24-39.
This article reviews randomized, controlled trials of hypnotic analgesia for the treatment of chronic and acute pain in adults. The results indicate that hypnotic analgesia consistently results in greater decreases of pain, compared to standard care and other non-standard interventions.

Hypnotherapy for the management of chronic pain.
Elkins G, Jensen MP, Patterson DR. Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2007 Jul; 55(3):275-87.
This paper reviews thirteen studies which compare outcomes from two types of treatments for chronic pain: hypnosis and three non-hypnotic interventions (attention, physical therapy, and education). The studies showed that hypnosis was generally more effective than non-hypnotic interventions in reducing pain and improving patients’ quality of life.

Hypnotic treatment of chronic pain.
Jensen M, Patterson DR. J Behav Med. 2006 Feb; 29(1):95-124. Epub 2006 Jan 11.
This article reviews controlled trials of hypnotic treatment for chronic pain. The findings indicate that hypnotic analgesia produces significantly greater decreases in pain relative to no-treatment and to some non-hypnotic interventions, such as medication management, physical therapy, and education/advice.

Hypnosis and clinical pain.
Patterson DR, Jensen MP. Psychol Bull. 2003 Jul; 129(4):495-521.
Review of randomized controlled studies with clinical populations indicate that hypnosis has a reliable and significant impact on acute procedural pain and chronic pain conditions.

A meta-analysis of hypnotically induced analgesia: how effective is hypnosis?
Montgomery GH, DuHamel KN, Redd WH. Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2000 Apr; 48(2):138-53.
Meta-analysis of 18 studies supports the efficacy of hypnotic techniques for pain management. The results also indicate that hypnotic suggestion is equally effective in reducing both clinical and experimental pain.

Hypnosis treatment of clinical pain: understanding why hypnosis is useful.
Holroyd J. Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 1996 Jan; 44(1):33-51.
The author reviews controlled clinical studies assessing efficacy of hypnosis for pain management. Hypnosis compares favorably with other interventions for pain management.

Expanding hypnotic pain management to the affective dimension of pain.
Feldman JB. Am J Clin Hypn. 2009 Jan; 51(3):235-54.
This paper presents both the scientific background and the general clinical approaches used to affect both the emotional and sensory dimensions of pain during hypnotherapy interventions for pain relief.

Recent advances in the application of hypnosis to pain management.
Chaves JF. Am J Clin Hypn. 1994 Oct; 37(2):117-29.
This paper emphasizes the multifaceted nature of hypnotic interventions and the importance of patients’ attitudes, expectations, and beliefs in modulating the pain experience.

Focused analgesia and generalized relaxation produce differential hypnotic analgesia in response to ascending stimulus intensity.
Sharav Y, Tal M. Int J Psychophysiol. 2004 Apr; 52(2):187-96.
This study examines the effects of different types of hypnotic suggestions (generalized relaxation and focused analgesia) on the perception of pain in highly-hypnotizable and low-hypnotizable subjects.

Hypnosis for pain and anxiety during medical procedures

Hypnosis for the management of chronic and cancer procedure-related pain in children.
Tomé-Pires C, Miró J. Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2012 Oct; 60(4):432-57.
This study reviewed 12 randomized clinical trials of hypnotic treatments for chronic and cancer procedure-related pain in children and confirmed that hypnosis is an effective pain-control technique in this patient population.

Adjunctive non-pharmacological analgesia for invasive medical procedures: a randomised trial.
Lang EV, Benotsch EG, Fick LJ, Lutgendorf S, Berbaum ML, Berbaum KS, Logan H, Spiegel D. Lancet. 2000 Apr 29; 355(9214):1486-90.
Self-hypnosis significantly shortened surgical procedure time and improved haemodynamic stability during the procedure. Hypnosis also had a pronounced effect on procedural pain and anxiety reduction.

Adjunctive self-hypnotic relaxation for outpatient medical procedures: a prospective randomized trial with women undergoing large core breast biopsy.
Lang EV, Berbaum KS, Faintuch S, Hatsiopoulou O, Halsey N, Li X, Berbaum ML, Laser E, Baum J. Pain. 2006 Dec 15; 126(1-3):155-64. Epub 2006 Sep 7.
Hypnosis decreased procedural pain and anxiety during outpatient surgical procedures.

Practical hypnotic interventions during invasive cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Flory N, Lang E. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 2008 Aug; 22(4):709-25, ix.
Several randomized controlled trials reviewed in this article have shown that hypnotic techniques are effective in reducing pain and anxiety, stabilizing vital signs and reducing procedure time during ambulatory surgical procedures.

Hypnosis reduces distress and duration of an invasive medical procedure for children.
Butler LD, Symons BK, Henderson SL, Shortliffe LD, Spiegel D. Pediatrics. 2005 Jan; 115(1):e77-85.
When utilized during surgical medical procedures, hypnosis reduced distress in children, improved ease of procedure for the medical staff and resulted in a significant reduction of the procedure duration.

A randomized, controlled trial of immersive virtual reality analgesia, during physical therapy for pediatric burns.
Schmitt YS, Hoffman HG, Blough DK, Patterson DR, Jensen MP, Soltani M, Carrougher GJ, Nakamura D, Sharar SR. Burns. 2011 Feb; 37(1):61-8. Epub 2010 Aug 7.
Virtual reality was used as a form of hypnotic induction to reduce pain in pediatric patients undergoing painful physical therapy procedures. The intervention had positive outcomes.

Hypnosis for labor pain and anxiety and hypnosis for IVF

Antenatal hypnosis training and childbirth experience: a randomized controlled trial.
Werner A, Uldbjerg N, Zachariae R, Wu CS, Nohr EA. Birth. 2013 Dec;40(4):272-80. doi: 0.1111/birt.12071.
In this large randomized controlled trial, a brief course in self-hypnosis significantly improved the women’s childbirth experience.

Hypnosis versus diazepam for embryo transfer: a randomized controlled study.
Catoire P, Delaunay L, Dannappel T, Baracchini D, Marcadet-Fredet S, Moreau O, Pacaud L, Przyrowski D, Marret E. Am J Clin Hypn. 2013 Apr; 55(4):378-86.
The study shows that hypnosis during embryo transfer is as effective as diazepam in terms of pregnancy ratio and anxiolytic effects, but has fewer side effects.

Hypnosis in pregnancy with intrauterine growth restriction and oligohydramnios: an innovative approach.
Shah MC, Thakkar SH, Vyas RB. Am J Clin Hypn. 2011 Oct; 54(2):116-23.
This study shows that hypnosis used in addition to the conventional medical management in complicated pregnancies decreased the rate of pre-term delivery and incidence of low-weight babies. Addition of hypnosis also significantly reduced need for cesarean section.

The efficacy of hypnosis as an intervention for labor and delivery pain: a comprehensive methodological review.
Landolt AS, Milling LS. Clin Psychol Rev. 2011 Aug; 31(6):1022-31. Epub 2011 Jun 23.
This paper presents a review of research on the efficacy of hypnosis for reducing labor and delivery pain. The review shows that hypnosis is consistently shown to be more effective than standard medical care, supportive counseling, and childbirth education classes in reducing pain. Other benefits include better infant Apgar scores and shorter Stage 1 labor.

Impact of hypnosis during embryo transfer on the outcome of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer: a case-control study.
Levitas E, Parmet A, Lunenfeld E, Bentov Y, Burstein E, Friger M, Potashnik G. Fertil Steril. 2006 May; 85(5):1404-8. Epub 2006 Mar 29.
This study suggests that the use of hypnosis during embryo transfer significantly increases implantation and clinical pregnancy rate in the IVF/embryo-transfer patients. Furthermore, patients who engage in hypnosis have a more favorable attitude towards the treatment.

Practical uses of clinical hypnosis in enhancing fertility, healthy pregnancy and childbirth.
James U. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2009 Nov;15(4):239-41. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2009.09.005. Epub 2009 Sep 24.
This article identifies practical uses of hypnosis within midwifery. The author and her team teaches clinical hypnosis at 11 medical schools in the UK.

Hypnosis for hot flashes/menopause symptoms and postpartum depression

Clinical hypnosis in the treatment of postmenopausal hot flashes: a randomized controlled trial.
Elkins GR, Fisher WI, Johnson AK, Carpenter JS, Keith TZ. Menopause. 2013 Mar; 20(3):291-8. doi: 10.1097/GME.0b013e31826ce3ed.
Clinical hypnosis results in significant reductions in self-reported and physiologically measured hot flashes and hot flash scores in postmenopausal women.

When the bough breaks: rethinking treatment strategies for perinatal depression.
Rosenquist SE. Am J Clin Hypn. 2013 Jan; 55(3):291-323.
This article addresses the effectiveness of strategic cognitive-behavioral therapy enhanced with hypnosis for treatment of perinatal depression.

Hypnosis for Tourette syndrome

Nonpharmacological treatment of tics in Tourette syndrome adding videotape training to self-hypnosis.
Lazarus JE, Klein SK. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2010 Jul-Aug;31(6):498-504. doi: 10.1097/DBP.0b013e3181e56c5d.
This study analyzes cases of 37 children and adolescents with Tourette syndrome treated with self-hypnosis for tic control. Self-hypnosis proved to be effective in achieving tic control.

Clinical research on the utility of hypnosis in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of medical and psychiatric disorders.
Nash MR, Perez N, Tasso A, Levy JJ. Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2009 Oct;57(4):443-50. doi: 10.1080/00207140903099153.
The authors summarize 4 articles which address the role of hypnosis in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of medical and psychiatric disorders/conditions.

Other interesting studies

Oxytocin as a moderator of hypnotizability.
Bryant RA, Hung L, Guastella AJ, Mitchell PB. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2012 Jan; 37(1):162-6. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.05.010. Epub 2011 Jun 8.
It has been proven that rapport between hypnotist and subject greatly influences the results of hypnosis. Oxytocin is a neuropeptide which facilitates social bonding. In this study low hypnotizable individuals participated in hypnosis sessions with and without oxytocin. When low hypnotizable individuals were administered oxytocin via nasal spray, their level of hypnotic responding increased significantly compared to hypnotic responding levels prior to oxytocin administration. This is the first demonstration of a neurochemical basis for hypnotic responding, and points to a potential neural mechanism to explain hypnotizability.

testimonialsTwo years ago I drove nearly two hours each way to see Teresa for treatment of severe headaches and migraines. It was difficult to fit the treatments into my schedule because I run a busy business, but I did not have a choice – I got to the point I was afraid I would not be able to work. I knew that stress played a big part in my headache and migraine symptoms, so once I learned that Teresa was also a hypnotherapist I decided to also engage in hypnotherapy with her. I was amazed that within two months of us working together I was feeling 75% better – my baseline headaches were practically resolved (I just felt a sensation of tightness in my head, but there was no pain) and migraine attacks decreased from 2-3 times a week to just 3 in a month. With continued treatment, my headaches completely resolved and my migraines became sporadic (I had just 2 migraine episodes in the last year).

I am very grateful to Teresa for her help because not only my headaches are gone, but thanks to hypnosis, I am now able to handle hectic job and stressful life in a way that does not harm my body.

– Female, 45

testimonialsI did hypnosis for facial tics. I am a business consultant and my tics were particularly bad when I was meeting new clients, which of course was making me very self-conscious and nervous. I was trying to avoid meeting people face-to-face, and I was getting nervous just packing my bag for a business trip. I have tried many interventions for this problem, but none of them worked. I was desperate, so I decided to try hypnosis. I must say that hypnosis was the only thing that worked for me. I may occasionally get nervous thinking about an important meeting, but now I know how to deal with it – if I start feeling slightly anxious, I go back to the recordings of my sessions and that is all I need to do to feel calm again.

– Male, 38

testimonialsDear Teresa, I wanted to thank you for my first hypnosis session. I was completely calm and relaxed after our appointment and enjoyed the rest of the day more than any other in recent memory. It truly was the first time in many, many years I didn’t feel anxious. I cannot wait for my next session and I am looking forward to working with the recordings you gave me. I feel like a new person and now I believe I can change and become the calm and peaceful person I have always wanted to be, but until now I did not believe I could be.

– Female, 43

testimonialsOur son suffered from perseverative eating disorder (“picky eater”): there was a very limited list of foods he was willing to eat; he would not touch any fruit or veggies because he was repulsed just by a thought of them. Inadequate nutrition affected our son’s health and rate of growth. We got to the point that if he hadn’t improved his food intake he would have had to be hospitalized. We worked with a psychiatrist, psychologist, GI doctor and a dietitian but the situation was not improving. Eventually we became so desperate that we followed an advise of a friend whose daughter did hypnosis with Teresa and we scheduled hypnotherapy sessions for my son. We were amazed at the results of hypnosis. Teresa has real talent for working with children. Our son adored her and really liked his hypnosis sessions. Teresa was very creative, coming up with age- appropriate pictures, metaphors and messages that were meaningful and appealing to our son. She was boosting his self-confidence and praised him for even small accomplishments. Within just a few sessions we started adding some fruit and veggies to his diet and we were gradually expanding the menu. We also noticed a dramatic improvement our son’s his mood, ability to handle unexpected situations and new ideas. He also became more assertive and more confident and much more open socially. We had no doubts that all these positive changes were a direct effect of hypnotherapy. I am now a firm believer in hypnotherapy and I would highly recommend it as a treatment for both children and adults.

- Male 9

testimonialsI approached Teresa to help my daughter focus and perform to the best of her abilities during swimming competitions. She was an excellent swimmer, but she did not perform well under pressure. Hypnosis helped my daughter tremendously in the area of athletic performance, but what impressed me even more was that it empowered her in a way that also showed in other areas of her life. My daughter is now more assertive and more self- confident. She says that she is able to concentrate better during tests at school, which has resulted in improved grades. She says that she no longer needs to listen to the recordings from her hypnosis sessions because now she can relax and focus on her own.

– Female, 14

testimonialsI suffered from tinnitus for many years. I contacted Teresa because I exhausted all treatment options and I wanted to try hypnosis as the last resort. I found hypnosis very helpful. I am now able to ignore sounds in my ears, so even though tinnitus is still there, it did not bother me anymore. In fact, most of the time I don’t even notice it. Hypnosis also improved my sleep and my ability to manage everyday stresses. Even my wife noticed a positive difference in my mood and overall functioning.

-Male, 38

testimonialsI was in my first year of college when my fibromyalgia pain stated preventing me from attending school. I was devastated and depressed. I was staying in bed all day because of pain. I lost all my friends and had no idea how I would live my life. My psychiatrist wanted me to see Teresa for hypnosis and physical therapy for pain. I did not believe it would work, but I had nothing to lose, so I gave it a try. And it worked! It was a slow process, but now I am able to study full-time, I am going out with my friends and I know that as long as I take care of myself (doing my daily exercises and self-hypnosis) I will be O.K.

-Female, 19

testimonialsBefore working with Teresa I could not control my temper. I was impulsive and always agitated. Hypnosis made it possible for me to learn how to control my emotions and behave in a calm way. Now when I look at people who behave the way I used to behave, getting angry and agitated over nothing, I just think: “I used to be this way, but I no longer am” and I feel great.

– Male, 45

testimonialsI am not a relaxed person and I am an analytical skeptic, so trying hypnotherapy was a stretch for me. I did it because I felt I had no choice. The stress started affecting my health and I needed to learn how to handle it better. I trusted Teresa from the first time I saw her. I felt very comfortable in her office and I was completely comfortable with her – Teresa was very professional, but also warm and caring; she was a good listener and I immediately felt I could trust her.

I thought I would have difficulties relaxing and going into hypnosis because I had never been able to relax when trying to meditate at home. To my surprise, even at the first session I had no trouble following the messages and cues from Teresa and I relaxed very fast and very deeply. I was surprised how easy it was: I just listened to what Teresa was saying and before I knew, I felt so safe and so comfortable that I didn’t care about anything else. I could see every image Teresa was describing to me, from sitting in a cloud chair to pulling out a plug in a bath tub and sending stress down the drain. I couldn’t believe how comfortable and relaxed my body became – I did not feel my body at all (even though I was aware of it), just as I did not have any thoughts popping into my mind (even though I knew I could think if I wanted to).

At my next two sessions I went into hypnosis even deeper because I already knew how to relax and I practiced going into hypnosis at home (Teresa gave me recordings of my sessions). When in deep trance, I could still talk and remain in hypnosis. Just like the first time, all imagery used by Teresa promoted a sense of calm, peace, safety and comfort, but this time in addition to feeling relaxed and peaceful we were also working on my issues and imagining specific stress-producing life situations and developing new reactions to these situations.

The work I did through hypnosis has completely altered my life. I still practice with the recordings of my sessions because I benefit from it. As a result of my (self-hypnosis) practice I am a much calmer, more self-confident and more optimistic person. I am very happy with the results of my hypnotherapy with Teresa and because of my positive experience I often recommend hypnosis to my friends and family members.

– Female, 55

testimonialsSelf-hypnosis I learned through hypnotherapy with Teresa helps me control symptoms of IBS I have struggled with for many years. I have finally stopped being a victim of my disease and took control over my body.

– Female, 53

testimonialsI did hypnosis with Teresa because I wanted to eliminate sweets from my diet (my sugar and chocolate cravings were causing a lot of stress and frustration and feeling of being out of control, not to mention they contributed to my weight gain). I was surprised how easy it was for me to go into trance – I thought it would take me a lot of practice, but I was able to do it at the first session. I was able to easily visualize every detail of every cookie and cake and chocolate bar I used to crave and then I followed specific images Teresa was describing to me, which made me change my attitude towards sweets. I had two hypnosis sessions for sugar cravings and I haven’t eaten any of that stuff since then (and it’s been way over a year now). It’s not that I sometimes don’t think of eating sweets or chocolate, but now I don’t feel compelled to have them. If I see sweets now I can consciously think: ” This is not good for me. My body doesn’t need it. Never mind!” and I lose interest in them. And even if I try eating them, they just don’t taste as good to me anymore and I think: “this wasn’t worth it at all”.

– Female, 54

testimonialsI am so glad my GI doctor referred me to Teresa for hypnosis. I have been struggling with GI issues all my life, but the last 10 years were just a nightmare. I got to the point I was afraid to leave the house because I was either constipated or had a diarrhea and I was always bloated and in pain. I could barely work (and it was taking me 3-4 hours just to prepare for leaving to work because of my bathroom needs). I did not have any social life – I could not date anyone and I even didn’t want to see my friends because I never knew when I would need to use the bathroom and I was in constant pain (either from gas or from constipation). I was afraid to eat because even foods I thought were safe for me were causing problems. I felt hopeless and depressed.

I was initially resistant to the idea of hypnosis because I didn’t know how it could help me. I had heard about people using hypnosis to quit smoking or to lose weight, but IBS is a medical problem, so I did not think it would do anything for it. The next time I saw my doctor for a follow up I was in tears and I thought I could not live like that anymore. Again, my doctor insisted I do hypnosis and this time I reluctantly scheduled an appointment. I felt foolish driving for the appointment and I remember thinking “This is crazy! How is she supposed to hypnotize me? I am in pain and stressed to the limits and I don’t even believe in hypnosis”.

That’s what I thought when I entered the office, but I immediately felt at ease when I started talking with Teresa. Somehow I just felt comfortable with her and I trusted she knew what she was doing. She was very professional and she understood IBS very well – it was obvious by the questions she asked me. I felt comfortable talking with her about quite gross and disgusting things like my bowel and bathroom habits. I was still concerned that I would not be able to relax enough to get hypnotized, but it was not the case at all. I actually relaxed very quickly. My body was very heavy even though I felt a floating sensation. The experience was so deeply relaxing that it would have been difficult to move if I had wanted to move. I remember becoming emotional because I felt so good! Once I was in hypnosis Teresa was telling me to think about things related to my body and imagine my stomach and intestines and what was happening there – she was describing everything to me and I just listened. I was surprised that, as we were going through the session, I was able to stop my stomach from churning and stop feeling abdominal pain just by imagining what Teresa was describing to me. I loved the image of a river slowly rolling down, down, down, … Teresa was using her words very deliberately – everything she was telling me had a meaning. When the session was over, I knew that hypnosis would help me with IBS.

We had two more sessions after my first session and I cannot even describe how helpful these sessions were. Until now, every time I imagine the river flowing down I feel my stomach and intestines relaxing, almost like unwinding, and I feel comfortable. Teresa also gave me a sign that I do with my fingers, which helps me relax and center myself. I can do it even when I am talking with somebody – they don’t notice anything, but I immediately feel relaxed and comfortable when I do that. I still listen to different parts of my sessions. I don’t treat it as homework – I really want to do it because it helps me feel good. I think anyone suffering from IBS should do hypnosis – it really makes a huge difference!

– Female, 43

testimonialsHypnosis in the best relaxation tool I have ever found. I have practiced meditation, I’ve done yoga and chakra work, I have many books and relaxation CDs and DVDs, but none of these has worked as well for me as hypnosis.

– Female, 46

testimonialsI scheduled hypnosis sessions with Teresa when I learned that I needed a major surgery because I had anxiety related to medical procedures and I was terrified of needles. I was fainting every time I had my blood drawn (I was not able to do the pre-op blood work), I could not imagine having an IV line in my vein and I was feeling anxious just thinking about the surgery. Hypnosis helped me not only with pre-op tests involving blood drawing (after doing hypnosis I was perfectly calm during blood drawing, even though the nurse who did it had difficulties finding my veins and needed to repeat the procedure number of times), but it also prepared me for surgery and for post-surgical recovery. I felt no anxiety entering the hospital and going into the surgery – on the day of my surgery I felt exactly the way Teresa described to me when I was in hypnosis – and I felt completely calm when I woke up in the recovery room with IVs in my veins. My fear of needles, hospitals and medical procedure is fully resolved now, thanks to hypnosis.

– Female, 34

testimonialsI wish I had discovered hypnotherapy earlier in life. All my life I have struggled with low self-esteem and anxiety. I’ve been in therapy on and off most of my life and even though I have made good progress, I could never get to the point where I would feel inner peace. Hypnosis has allowed me reach that place of peace, acceptance, and harmony. As a result of hypnotherapy I’ve developed a positive attitude. My negative self-talk is almost gone and if I catch myself being negative again I know exactly how to handle it. Hypnosis has been the most positive and the most empowering experience in my life.

– Female, 67

testimonialsI decided to do hypnotherapy with Teresa because I was struggling with insomnia for over 20 years and I got to the point that no matter how tired I was, I could not fall asleep without high doses of sleeping pills. Ever since I saw Teresa 2 years ago I have been sleeping all night without any medications.

Male, 61

testimonialsThanks to Teresa I have improved by lacrosse and basketball game tremendously. I’ve been listening to the recordings from hypnosis sessions before each game, which helps me focus much better than ever before and ignore distractions to the point that I don’t see or hear anything not related to the game. My goal is to go to college on athletic scholarship and I know that it will happen. Thank you, Teresa.

- Female 16

testimonialsMy 13 y.o. son developed headaches. I took him to every doctor, but nothing seemed to help until he started treatment with Teresa. Teresa is great with children – my son absolutely loved her and allowed her work on his neck muscles, which was making a huge difference in his symptoms right from the beginning. My son also did hypnosis to learn how to relax and stop clenching his teeth (I had never thought that children his age experienced life as stressful, but now I am learning that this is quite common now). As a result of Teresa’s treatment my son no longer complains of headaches and seems to be much happier and more relaxed then he was before. We are so grateful to Teresa for that!

– Male, 13

testimonialsI did hypnosis with Teresa because I wanted to stop biting my nails (I had been biting my nails since I was a young child). In the past I was always embarrassed when people looked at my hands, but it was only when my child was born that I became determined to stop that habit. My brother used hypnosis to stop smoking and it worked very well for him. I thought that if it worked for smoking it may work for nail biting. I was really surprised how well hypnotherapy worked for my problem. I had 4 sessions with Teresa and I am fully “rehabilitated”. My nails are long and I have no interest in biting them at all. I have also noticed that in addition to solving my nail biting problem, hypnosis also helped me sleep better and feel generally calmer and more optimistic. Overall, I had a very positive experience and I would recommend hypnosis to anyone who wants to change a bad habit or just to become a calmer person.

– Male, 39

testimonialsI have tried many different treatments in order to help me wear a CPAP mask. I have had 12 sleep studies, tried nearly 20 masks, attended special mask fitting sessions, and even went to a psychotherapist who specializes in helping people tolerate wearing the mask. But none of these treatments were successful – I still could not wear my CPAP mask.

I was desperate for sleep, so when I learned that my physical therapist was also trained in hypnosis I decided to give it a try. (I knew Teresa Sienkiewicz very well and I figured that if she believed in hypnosis and spent her time and money studying it, then I should give it a try.)

I had just one session with Teresa and the results of it far exceeded any expectations I had going into it. My experience of hypnotic trance was actually not what I expected – I thought I was supposed to feel groggy and out of touch, just the way I saw in movies, but as I now understand I was completely wrong. During the session I felt very relaxed and peaceful, but not out of touch. In fact, I felt very alert (my body was extremely comfortable, but my mind was completely alert). Because of that I thought I was not hypnotized and I thought that the session in no way would help me wear my mask. But since I was already there, I decided to make the best of it and enjoy the beautiful sense of calm I was experiencing, even though I thought it would not solve my problem with the CPAP mask. I did enjoyed hearing the positive suggestions that Teresa gave me, and I really enjoyed the feeling of peace and calm in my body when I was sitting in the recliner chair. When the session ended, I thanked Teresa and went home, all the while thinking that the treatment was nice, but unfruitful.

To my surprise, I slept that night with the mask on! I thought it was a fluke, but the same happened next night, then the next night, then the next. That’s when I realized that I was hypnotized during the session. Nothing else could have resulted in such a drastic change (for years I had not been able to use the mask at all).

Teresa gave me a recording of my session and explained to me how to do self-hypnosis. I do self-hypnosis every day, but have listened to the recording only a few times – I feel like I don’t even need to listed to the recording because I have Teresa’s suggestions in my head and I refer back to them not just when I am wearing a sleep apnea mask, but also when I am trying to do other difficult things in my life. I think that self-hypnosis plays a role in my treatment being so successful and in the longevity of the success.

As a patient, I would say that the most important factor was to have complete trust in the hypnotherapist. I trust Teresa, as she truly cares about her patients and you can feel her healing energy when she is completely focused on you. She has a wonderful rapport with her patients. I believe that if she did not have this gift, hypnotherapy might have not been as successful (and its results would have not been as immediate) as it was in my case.

– Female, 48

testimonialsHypnosis helped me pass my bar exam with flying colors and made the process of studying less stressful and more enjoyable. I would recommend use of hypnosis to anyone who is preparing for any important test or exam.

– Male, 28

testimonialsTeresa Sienkiewicz of New Body – New Mind played a crucial role in my long journey back to health and well-being. I am so fortunate to have been referred to her – she is simply the best manual therapist, physical therapist and hypnotist I know.

I always looked forward to every visit with Teresa, not only because of her professional expertise, but also because I really like(d) her as a person. She is very intelligent, extremely hardworking and a joy to be with. She is cheerful and gregarious and gives patients her undivided attention. She really listens, truly cares and offers thoughtful advice and reassurance. Her office environment is beautiful and welcoming and made me feel very comfortable and at ease. During treatment, Teresa made me feel physically and mentally relaxed and well cared for. She exudes confidence and knows exactly what she is doing; you know you are literally in “good hands”.

Regarding my physical TMJ symptoms, I saw immediate improvements in pain, tightness, restrictions and trigger points in my face and neck fairly early on; I eventually saw marked improvements in these areas. Unfortunately, I had simultaneously developed chronic pelvic pain shortly after I began treatment with Teresa (a condition which must have begun years prior). While I continued with Teresa for treatment of TMJ symptoms, I needed to seek additional therapy elsewhere for this other complex and challenging disorder (Teresa referred me to an excellent practice for this). By this time, however, I was also suffering from serious anxiety and depression. All of these conditions proved to be overwhelming for me, and naturally, my progress slowed down.

The pain, anxiety and depression, the fear of not knowing when and if I my pelvic pain would get better (because my TMJ was by that time almost resolved), and the lack of my daily marathon training (so vital to my mental health), was crushing. Teresa was with me every step of the way, always listening to me through lots of my tears, and supporting me in the way nobody else had ever done. I decided to ask Teresa for hypnotherapy as a way to help alleviate my anxiety. She created personalized hypnosis sessions that I benefited greatly from. The messages from my hypnotherapy sessions are still with me in my mind and I continually derive strength and courage from them. Teresa invested the same level of expertise and caring into these sessions as she did with my manual therapy.

I am now back to my normal self. I had gotten my life back and I amazed myself by running my fastest Boston Marathon time with very minimal training.

I am so grateful for all Teresa has done for me. Throughout the nightmare of pain and suffering that I endured, a silver lining was coming to know Teresa Sienkiewicz.

– Female, 45

testimonialsMy husband and I are very grateful we found Teresa. We were referred to her by our daughter’s child psychologist. Her hypnosis sessions with Teresa have completely changed her life (and our lives): she went from a shut-down, fearful child to an opened-up, happy child. She stopped sleeping in our bedroom and is happy sleeping in her own bedroom. She is no longer afraid of the dark. She enjoys going to school and playing with her friends. We could not be more thrilled with the results of hypnotherapy and we highly recommend Teresa to any parent who worries about their child.

- Female 10

testimonialsI am writing it to you to thank you for my first hypnosis session we had yesterday. It was truly a new beginning. During the session I felt like I was in a lullaby, floating around on a cloud without knowing or thinking about time or about where I was. I didn’t have my “guard’ up and even though we were addressing my key issues – somehow I didn’t concern myself with them. Hypnosis was the most liberating mental experience I have ever had – when I was in your office I felt released from all the issues I had been spending the majority of my time thinking about. Released, yet totally tuned in and connected to the positive messages I was hearing from you. It was the calmness that I always have wanted, but had never been able to find. I loved it! Yesterday night, just before going to bed, I listened to the recording you gave me. I find your voice very soothing and calming and within a few minutes, again, I experienced the same feelings of total relaxation I felt in your office. I didn’t expect that I could get so relaxed on my own before bed since I usually stress out about being able to fall asleep. I fell asleep really fast and I slept until 7:30 am today! I woke up feeling great and I enjoyed my coffee and a quiet mind. I can’t stress enough what a HUGE achievement it is for someone like me who’s been wound up all the time. I used to wake up at 3 in the morning and feel like I had already run out of time in the day. I always worried about how I’d get it all done. Today was the first time in many, many years I felt completely different. Thank you Teresa and I look forward to our next session.

– Female, 38

testimonialsI have had fibromyalgia symptoms since I was 16, I was diagnosed at the age of 30. In addition to providing pain relief through myofascial release, craniosacral therapy and ultrasound, Teresa has taught me how to control my thoughts and manage flare ups through self-hypnosis. I also learned how to pace my activities and what exercises to do every day to maintain my body as comfortable as it can be, given my condition. I know I will have fibromyalgia for the rest of my life, but now I also know how not to let it get to me.

-Female, 49

testimonialsI saw many ear doctors for ringing in the ear. The ringing was so annoying that it was difficult to focus on my work. At night ringing was even louder, so I had issues with falling asleep. Everyone was telling me that there was nothing wrong with my ears. Eventually one doctor told me that if I found someone who could massage face muscles, I might be able to get some relief. I am so glad that I found Teresa’s web-site. We started working together and her manual therapy made a huge difference. In addition to working on the muscles I also did hypnosis with her to learn how to stop focusing on the ears all the time and it was very helpful too. I highly recommend this kind of therapy to anyone who suffers from tinnitus.

-Female, 51

testimonialsHypnosis has had a very positive effect on my life. I came to Teresa because I was overwhelmed by my hectic schedule. I have three children who participate in many after school activities and athletic events. I am often also responsible for picking up their friends and driving a number of excited, loud kids in my car. As a result of that I was feeling frazzled, anxious and getting everyone to where they needed to be on time was really overwhelming to me. I felt that this stress was contributing to my headaches, which were usually worse in the afternoon. The hypnosis sessions with Teresa were very helpful to me. I especially liked the suggestions addressing directly this rushing around. In hypnosis Teresa told me that the internal time flowed much slower than the external time, so that as long as I remain peaceful and calm I will always have plenty of time for everything and that the more I relax around the concept of time, the more I will find time stretching and expanding. To my amazement I was quickly way less stressed while driving the kids around and I no longer feel anxious about getting everyone where they need to be. In fact, now that I am not stressed we actually arrive everywhere much earlier than before (while when I used to be stressed, we were always late). This may seem like a small achievement but getting kids to multiple places happens 7 days a week at multiple times per day, so to me it is a big thing.

I would recommend hypnosis to anyone, as it is safe and non-invasive and can be maintained in the comfort of your home after initial sessions. Self-hypnosis is my best tool for relaxation. Even though my work with Teresa is complete, I am still using recordings from my hypnosis sessions on a regular basis because I like the relaxation effect and I see the positive effects of my practice in all areas of my life.

– Female, 41

testimonialsI could never thank Teresa enough for helping my 12- year old son to stop bed-wetting. After just one hypnosis session we already saw an improvement. We could not believe that with the total of three sessions the problem was permanently gone, which did wonders for my son’s self-esteem. My son is now able to participate in sleep-overs and we are planning to send him to an overnight camp without any worries.

- Male 12

testimonialsAfter years of psychotherapy I decided to use hypnosis to work on low self-esteem. I thought it would take me a while to see a difference, but I felt empowered and became more assertive even after my first session. I had 5 hypnosis sessions with Teresa and I must say that the results exceeded my expectations. I think that the best way to describe my transformation is to say that hypnotherapy did not make me a “new’ person – it helped me find my true self and learn to like and accept whom I found.

Female, 32

testimonialsAfter years of conventional “talk” therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy for treatment of general anxiety disorder and claustrophobia (with fear of sitting on an airplane as one of the major issues), I decided to follow my friend’s advice and try hypnotherapy with Teresa Sienkiewicz at New Body New Mind (my friend was Teresa’s client and had great results with hypnosis for panic attacks).

I had researched the topic of hypnosis with great interest, but also with a good deal of skepticism. Despite my hesitations, due to the fact that I had not made any real progress with my other treatments, I decided I would give it a fair try. My additional motivation was that my 17 year old daughter really wanted to go to South America and I was determined to go with her, but to do that I needed first to be able to get onto a plane. And how was a supposed to do it when even a thought of entering a plane was setting off a panic in me? So I drove over an hour to meet with Teresa and discuss my case.

I was greeted at her office with friendliness, care and compassion and felt completely comfortable and relaxed in her presence. She was very thorough during my initial visit and wanted to understand every detail of the issues I had hoped to resolve. I trusted her competence and credentials and somehow I was confident that she could help me and I was correct about that.

After just three sessions with Teresa, I was amazed at the outcome: I no longer had fears of closed spaces and was overall a more calm, relaxed and confident person. But the true test came during the trip to South America (yes, I did go with my daughter just three weeks after my third session with Teresa). I was completely calm and relaxed on the plane, just as I was feeling during my mental practice with Teresa when in hypnosis. Then, when we were in Peru, every day I was sitting in crowded cars, mini-vans, busses, trains, etc. and I was perfectly fine with that. At one point during our travels, our train broke down on the tracks in the middle of the Andes mountains. We were trapped for nearly 3 hours in a very crowded car with no air conditioning and limited water. It was the ultimate “test” for me and I was in total control. No panic whatsoever. During that entire time, I never once felt claustrophobic, anxious or fearful despite many people around me having a very difficult time. I knew immediately that my reaction to the situation was a direct result of the help I had received from Teresa. Also, during one of our numerous hikes, we had to navigate through a long, extremely narrow, dark cavern with no sight of the other end and again I was able to do it with no anxiety at all. It was such a liberating experience and I cannot thank Teresa enough for all her help and expertise.

To this day, I am able to travel and live with confidence having overcome the fears and anxieties that had plagued me for years. Hypnosis has changed my life and the life of my family for the better in the most profound way.

– Female, 49

testimonialsWhen my daughter was 13 she wanted to go to an overnight camp with her friends. But this was a problem: she was terrified of thunder and had panic attacks every time she heard it. The problem became so bad I could see she was getting anxious on rainy days or when she saw clouds gathering before rain. Unfortunately, we have many thunder storms in the summer, so if she were to go to a camp, she would have to resolve her anxiety and panic attacks.

My daughter had worked with a child psychiatrist on this issue but, unfortunately, she had not made any progress. Eventually her psychiatrist suggested hypnosis.

Teresa worked with my daughter for 5 weeks. Two weeks after her last session we had a chance to test how hypnosis worked – there was a major storm with thunder and lighting and, to our astonishment, my daughter was perfectly calm. (I became nervous and rushed to her room to console her and she was just sitting on her bed, reading a book, completely relaxed. I could not believe my eyes). Thanks to hypnosis my daughter is no longer afraid of thunder. She’s been doing what every child her age does: going to camp, having sleep-overs, going on trips, etc. and I no longer keep checking weather reports to keep her safe.

– Female, 13

testimonialsI used hypnosis for weight loss. I have always struggled with my weight, but once I went through menopause I completely lost control over my body. I could not control my sugar cravings and developed a huge appetite for any food. As a result of that I gained a lot of weight and felt awful about myself. Hypnosis is the only thing I have done that helped me not only lose weight, but to maintain it. Thank you, Teresa!

– Female, 56